Sunday, May 10, 2009

time running out for Schalke as they lose 1-0 to Borussia Mönchengladbach

Die Königsblauen chances for European football ended as they lost 1-0 Borussia Mönchengladbach. With the majority of the talk surrounding Felix Magath pending move to Schalke, the second loss in a row leaves the club six points behind Dortmund with time quickly running out.

The loss was frustrating as Gladbach were unable to pose an attacking threat for the majority of the match. With the Gladback on their heels, Schalke pushed forward and were effectively in a practice ground exercise trying to break through eleven men behind the ball. After being unable to find their way through Gladbach was gift wrapped a chance from the spot twenty-two minutes in as Rafinha was adjudged to bringing Alexander Baumjohann down in the area. However Manuel Neuer stopped Marko Marin's attempt and the match remained even. The well organized Schalke attacked consistently but with each advance, finishing was off. In one of the most common threads of the sport, missing opportunities come back to haunt you and just as the match looked to be headed for a draw Gladbach's veterans stepped up. Called by many as too old to have an impact when he joined Gladback in January Tomáš Galásek as consistantly been the glue to maintain a tough defending stance. The thirty-six year old Czech sent a long clearance to Oliver Neuville, who then provided Roberto Colautti the ball with striker drilling the ball to the back of the net.